The specific impacts of carburizing treatment on the performance of bulldozer track chains are reflected in the following aspects:
Improved Hardness and Wear Resistance: Carburizing treatment significantly increases the hardness and wear resistance of the chain by increasing the carbon concentration on the surface. For example, in chains used for slagging machines, the enhanced surface hardness allows them to withstand significant tension and pressure, extending their service life.
Enhanced Fatigue Strength and Crack Resistance: Carburizing treatment forms fine, evenly distributed carbides, avoiding network-like or large clumping of carbides, thus improving fatigue strength and preventing issues such as cracking and flaking. Additionally, rare-earth carburizing processes can create a more gradual gradient in carbon concentration, further enhancing fatigue resistance and wear performance.
Improved Adhesion and Coating Performance: For components like the transmission shafts of bulldozers, using ion plating and magnetron sputtering composite techniques during carburizing treatment allows for the deposition of NbTaZrC gradient coatings, increasing the adhesion between the coating and the substrate, improving wear resistance, and extending service life.
Reduced Wear and Increased Longevity: Although carburizing treatment can significantly enhance the hardness and wear resistance of the chain, regular lubrication and maintenance are still necessary in actual use to reduce wear and friction.
Through the increase in hardness, improvement in fatigue strength, enhancement of adhesion, and reduction of wear, carburizing treatment significantly enhances the overall performance and service life of bulldozer track chains.